Chamber, CADC hire Nebraskan as new director

A Nebraska native who has led economic-development efforts in a full Cornhusker State county will start as the new Carroll Chamber of Commerce/Carroll Area Development Corp. (CADC) executive director on Jan. 2.

Shannon Landauer, 30, the current executive director of the Boone County (Neb.) Agency in Albion, emerged from a competitive field of candidates to succeed Jim Gossett who left the Carroll position to become the director of key accounts and economic development for Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative.

"Shannon has successful rural economic experience and is well-prepared to provide leadership in Carroll County and the region," said Carroll Chamber president Aaron Juergens. "Shannon is knowledgeable and ready to take on a new challenge."

Boone County's population is 5,500 people. Albion is about 75 miles northeast of Grand Island.

A native of Spalding, Neb., Landauer attended Midland Luther College and earned an associate's degree in business technology from Central Community College in Columbus, Neb. She is a graduate of the Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Laudauer started as part-time secretary with the Boone development group in 2005 and moved to the director's position in 2008.

In Boone County, development officials have worked to connect local schools with area businesses, Landauer said.

"That's really a primary issue for all our communities," she said in a phone interview Wednesday night.

Landauer also has focused on bringing affordable housing to her region as well as two successful wind-energy ventures.

Overall, she said, her strategy has been to zero in on growing existing businesses, creating an environment for them to expand consistently, rather than "smokestack chasing" with strategies to lure new major employers.

"Big announcements can lead to big closures," Landauer said.

The Carroll Area Development Corp. serves the full county - 21,000 people. While that is larger than Boone County, Neb., Landauer said she sees similarities that she expects will help her make a successful transition.

"I was just so impressed with everything Carroll has going on," Landauer said.

Landauer and her husband, Philip, who works in the livestock industry, have three children: Nolan, 11; Adysen, 6; and Rylen, 1.

The family is in the process of moving to Carroll.

"I compliment the community because it took a lot to pull us away from home," Landauer said.